Neil Grogan

Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com From Computer Science to Politics and Beyond... posterous.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/dueyfinsterhttp://feedburner.google.com Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:57:39 -0800 Technology New Years Resolutions http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/9zxvxBXVwmY/technology-new-years-resolutions http://www.neilgrogan.com/technology-new-years-resolutions <p> Some people make new years resolutions about eating healthier, exercising more etc. I find that boring, who doesn't want to be healthier? So I am making a list of technology resolutions:<p /><div><ul><li>Learn <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(programming_language)">C</a> in <a href="http://developer.apple.com/tools/xcode/">XCode</a> on a <a href="http://www.apple.com/getamac/">Mac</a></li> <li>Make an awesome <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_relationship_management">CRM</a> program for <a href="http://www.itb.ie/StudyatITB/bn104.html">College degree</a> (<a href="http://www.python.org/">Python</a>, <a href="http://code.google.com/appengine/">Google App Engine</a>)</li> <li>Learn <a href="http://www.vim.org/">Vim</a> and <a href="http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/">Emacs</a> bindings, using them for code</li><li>Learn to use <a href="http://git-scm.com/">Git</a>, possibly <a href="http://mercurial.selenic.com/">mercurial</a></li> <li>Learn some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objective-C">Obj-C</a> with <a href="http://developer.apple.com/cocoa/">Cocoa</a></li><li>Learn some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%2B%2B">C++</a> with <a href="http://qt.nokia.com/products">Qt</a></li> <li>Learn <a href="goog_1262610794764">Python + </a><a href="goog_1262610794764">Tcl</a><a href="goog_1262610794764">/</a><a href="http://wiki.python.org/moin/TkInter">tk</a></li><li>Learn more about the <a href="http://kerneltrap.org/node/5214">design of Linux kernel</a> and study some of it's code</li> <li>Do Sysadmin stuff on my server on <a href="http://www.linode.com/">Linode</a>; like <a href="goog_1262610794776">setting up </a><a href="goog_1262610794776">Sendmail</a><a href="goog_1262610794776">, </a><a href="goog_1262610794776">IRC</a><a href="http://library.linode.com/"> Servers and other stuff</a></li> <li>If I have time, investigate <a href="http://cakephp.org/">CakePHP</a>, <a href="http://www.djangoproject.com/">Django</a>, maybe <a href="http://www.ruby-lang.org/">Ruby</a> (<a href="http://rubyonrails.org/">on Rails</a>?) and it's ilk</li> </ul><div>That should keep me busy besides college and working! I didn't include any security stuff, as we're doing best practice for my honours degree next year. If anyone has any of their own, I'd love to see, or any resources to help me complete my list ^-^</div> <p /><div>Happy 2010!</div><p /><br /></div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/technology-new-years-resolutions">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/technology-new-years-resolutions#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bmRq0ScC4MAkZHRXxONmajxaeKU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bmRq0ScC4MAkZHRXxONmajxaeKU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bmRq0ScC4MAkZHRXxONmajxaeKU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bmRq0ScC4MAkZHRXxONmajxaeKU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=9zxvxBXVwmY:1m5MEh4goEc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=9zxvxBXVwmY:1m5MEh4goEc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=9zxvxBXVwmY:1m5MEh4goEc:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=9zxvxBXVwmY:1m5MEh4goEc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=9zxvxBXVwmY:1m5MEh4goEc:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=9zxvxBXVwmY:1m5MEh4goEc:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/9zxvxBXVwmY" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/technology-new-years-resolutions Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:24:11 -0800 Dogs chew things? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/ruD8gYnfUOs/dogs-chew-things http://www.neilgrogan.com/dogs-chew-things <p> Lesson learned: never leave a expensive. Take these pictures I shot after the dog attacked my <br />motorcycle! <p /> I still love dogs as pets, they are man's best friend and just like <br />best friends they can screw up. The only thing I am most upset about <br />now is the dog can't pay for the repairs... Forgive and forget <br />Fritzie? Thats a girl... <p /> <br />P.S. If anyone knows anyone thats in the seat repairing business, let <br />me know! I can find almost any other part for my Yamaha YP125 other <br />than a seat, grrrr<p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dueyfinster/9yaNfnXMT3kNpzYR120QOQQaakAWtTpz5rtBSinZTulzUZVWNSR4vfLSiZsa/SDC10982.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dueyfinster/HaJYR3Ips04USsc9HcZVAdLd5kSRf6qdc7OhRrpOy5risDms3IDpj28RV2WC/SDC10982.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dueyfinster/YQyXzy4P64GC7mdlvTtVYimk2B4mI6w6mmBT4x5QhlYIufG1dhp856zCbssK/SDC10983.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dueyfinster/H9G7KHBqXVVReOL6LUSFmBO29IcRRYRdcQU6FTg2l0uEfKAzCe577w4UN6D8/SDC10983.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dueyfinster/435CMLxfJlfdGrEiPkfzzAEdRhwl6ZVdp8my74mukRi7AnxpWCyMnNHYbxMG/SDC10984.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dueyfinster/DlTmwwIpduVzpyK6wrTKFmwT6AdEXSySECUHZcuR1BjbWZCdoDkXL4c5KpDD/SDC10984.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> <div><a href='http://www.neilgrogan.com/dogs-chew-things'>See and download the full gallery on posterous</a></div></p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/dogs-chew-things">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/dogs-chew-things#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/VsJK15g56YOiUqxi7FPbfHPFzWM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/VsJK15g56YOiUqxi7FPbfHPFzWM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/VsJK15g56YOiUqxi7FPbfHPFzWM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/VsJK15g56YOiUqxi7FPbfHPFzWM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=ruD8gYnfUOs:T4fKkNnPfmc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img 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makes the world's biggest train set http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/5d1YPzpwojg/9-years-10m-and-8km-makes-the-worlds-biggest http://www.neilgrogan.com/9-years-10m-and-8km-makes-the-worlds-biggest <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1164713/Nine-years--8m-miles-track-later-twin-brothers-present-worlds-biggest-train-set.html"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dueyfinster/frlbbwAtwGyezllCrhfbenqJmyJbmyeBhtFtBltowqDDDbGmHseGrCFjCxiD/media_httpidailymailcoukipix20090325article11647130416F8FA000005DC597306x423jpg_sznHbkBJFdJwfof.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="306" height="423"/> <object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/brBVdVy2kEQ&hl=en&fs=1" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/brBVdVy2kEQ&hl=en&fs=1" 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http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/9-years-10m-and-8km-makes-the-worlds-biggest Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:01:54 -0800 Best KDE/Linux? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/MHdtZxFqajU/best-kdelinux http://www.neilgrogan.com/best-kdelinux <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <a href="http://www.tuxradar.com/content/get-best-kde-linux-distro"><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dueyfinster/nhcpemhIhaknDbFnGmyDrygFCmfgwJfwsfBiEbAdJcEzAGazExymJgjbkHIn/media_httpwwwtuxradarcomfilesLXF126roundslackware02jpg_lEmerdfCueGgscx.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dueyfinster/nhcpemhIhaknDbFnGmyDrygFCmfgwJfwsfBiEbAdJcEzAGazExymJgjbkHIn/media_httpwwwtuxradarcomfilesLXF126roundslackware02jpg_lEmerdfCueGgscx.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> </a><div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.tuxradar.com/content/get-best-kde-linux-distro">tuxradar.com</a></div> <p>For me it's definitely Kubuntu, but I can see why they choose OpenSuSe. May I just mention the virtual machine builder system is awesome, pay attention Mr.Shuttleworth! Although PPA builds come a close second for useful online tools...</p></div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/best-kdelinux">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/best-kdelinux#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0RlGMHTmnaH-C3_CWsC0z0OIkLY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0RlGMHTmnaH-C3_CWsC0z0OIkLY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0RlGMHTmnaH-C3_CWsC0z0OIkLY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0RlGMHTmnaH-C3_CWsC0z0OIkLY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=MHdtZxFqajU:hHRx-MgFqeE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=MHdtZxFqajU:hHRx-MgFqeE:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=MHdtZxFqajU:hHRx-MgFqeE:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=MHdtZxFqajU:hHRx-MgFqeE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=MHdtZxFqajU:hHRx-MgFqeE:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=MHdtZxFqajU:hHRx-MgFqeE:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/MHdtZxFqajU" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/best-kdelinux Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:32:45 -0800 Why Should I Care What Color the Bikeshed Is? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/XAoocx1DKsY/why-should-i-care-what-color-the-bikeshed-is http://www.neilgrogan.com/why-should-i-care-what-color-the-bikeshed-is <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <div class="posterous_quote_citation"> "The really, really short answer is that you should not. The somewhat longer answer is that just because you are capable of building a bikeshed does not mean you should stop others from building one just because you do not like the color they plan to paint it. This is a metaphor indicating that you need not argue about every little feature just because you know enough to do so. Some people have commented that the amount of noise generated by a change is inversely proportional to the complexity of the change." <p /> <a href="http://bikeshed.com/">bikeshed.com</a></div> <p></p></div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/why-should-i-care-what-color-the-bikeshed-is">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/why-should-i-care-what-color-the-bikeshed-is#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/IjilJqL2Y5IPWVGwjiRUL0sNVjI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/IjilJqL2Y5IPWVGwjiRUL0sNVjI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/IjilJqL2Y5IPWVGwjiRUL0sNVjI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/IjilJqL2Y5IPWVGwjiRUL0sNVjI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=XAoocx1DKsY:XjxEU8a-8FY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=XAoocx1DKsY:XjxEU8a-8FY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=XAoocx1DKsY:XjxEU8a-8FY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=XAoocx1DKsY:XjxEU8a-8FY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=XAoocx1DKsY:XjxEU8a-8FY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=XAoocx1DKsY:XjxEU8a-8FY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/XAoocx1DKsY" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/why-should-i-care-what-color-the-bikeshed-is Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:34:09 -0800 Pulp Fiction theme http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/GbgFPCRjJY4/pulp-fiction-theme http://www.neilgrogan.com/pulp-fiction-theme <p> When I found this, I had to share it:<p /><object height="417" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Al-ld8YKU4A&hl=en&fs=1" /></param><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Al-ld8YKU4A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="417" wmode="window" width="500"></embed></object> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/pulp-fiction-theme">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/pulp-fiction-theme#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tJ97DrlFk2Lc9SyB3lUKbTkBqzo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tJ97DrlFk2Lc9SyB3lUKbTkBqzo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tJ97DrlFk2Lc9SyB3lUKbTkBqzo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tJ97DrlFk2Lc9SyB3lUKbTkBqzo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=GbgFPCRjJY4:G06_HLryKao:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=GbgFPCRjJY4:G06_HLryKao:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=GbgFPCRjJY4:G06_HLryKao:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=GbgFPCRjJY4:G06_HLryKao:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=GbgFPCRjJY4:G06_HLryKao:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=GbgFPCRjJY4:G06_HLryKao:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/GbgFPCRjJY4" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/pulp-fiction-theme Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:33:01 -0800 Cheesy Intel Ad http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/EJi4RkDyIFE/cheesy-intel-ad http://www.neilgrogan.com/cheesy-intel-ad <p> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqLPHrCQr2I&feature=player_embedded"><object height="417" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jqLPHrCQr2I&hl=en&fs=1" /></param><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jqLPHrCQr2I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="417" wmode="window" width="500"></embed></object></a> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/cheesy-intel-ad">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/cheesy-intel-ad#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Yg4paafBgA6zlE2oT_40aTEo_O8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Yg4paafBgA6zlE2oT_40aTEo_O8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Yg4paafBgA6zlE2oT_40aTEo_O8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Yg4paafBgA6zlE2oT_40aTEo_O8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=EJi4RkDyIFE:R_27O2J8YfY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=EJi4RkDyIFE:R_27O2J8YfY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=EJi4RkDyIFE:R_27O2J8YfY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=EJi4RkDyIFE:R_27O2J8YfY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=EJi4RkDyIFE:R_27O2J8YfY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=EJi4RkDyIFE:R_27O2J8YfY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/EJi4RkDyIFE" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/cheesy-intel-ad Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:36:34 -0800 Yamaha Majesty 400c Review http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/B8n2PmDzcM4/yamaha-majesty-400c-review http://www.neilgrogan.com/yamaha-majesty-400c-review <p> I own a Majesty 125cc 2002. The video below is the updated (and more powerful) model:<p /><object height="417" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VTmmqwKc878&hl=en&fs=1" /></param><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VTmmqwKc878&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="417" wmode="window" width="500"></embed></object><p />(Some of the) New features:<br /> <ul><li>2x the amount of space</li><li>Parking break (for hills! Think handbrake if your a car driver)<br /></li><li>Liquid-cooled 400cc<br /></li><li>ABS brakes</li><li>Dual Halogen Headlights</li><li>Larger rear lights</li> <li>Csr-like oversize dials on dash</li></ul>It looks good, good, good. I haven't looked at price, but my last two bikes are Yamaha and I've had little trouble with them. I like the bigger bikes that have loads of built in storage (panniers look a bit unnatural) and a bike that's confident in itself to not have to show off it's braun but rather it's brains with good safety and road handling ;) </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/yamaha-majesty-400c-review">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/yamaha-majesty-400c-review#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/CeDtAc0qgme7cXEJIKXffGwaUO0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/CeDtAc0qgme7cXEJIKXffGwaUO0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/CeDtAc0qgme7cXEJIKXffGwaUO0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/CeDtAc0qgme7cXEJIKXffGwaUO0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=B8n2PmDzcM4:8-AGYuGQu2k:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=B8n2PmDzcM4:8-AGYuGQu2k:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=B8n2PmDzcM4:8-AGYuGQu2k:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=B8n2PmDzcM4:8-AGYuGQu2k:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=B8n2PmDzcM4:8-AGYuGQu2k:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=B8n2PmDzcM4:8-AGYuGQu2k:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/B8n2PmDzcM4" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/yamaha-majesty-400c-review Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:18:58 -0800 History of Coke Bottles http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/0qWunwf5lEg/history-of-coke-bottles-0 http://www.neilgrogan.com/history-of-coke-bottles-0 <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><a href="http://www.likecool.com/Coca_Cola_History--Pic--Gear.html"><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dueyfinster/dsIucpqekcCqHwIdyphaIvlhbbhxAJloJjoocjbksAxICtIesplfGCjspJEw/media_httpwwwlikecoolcomGearPicCoca20Cola20HistoryCocaColaHistoryjpg_rbkJorAlwbcggBc.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dueyfinster/dsIucpqekcCqHwIdyphaIvlhbbhxAJloJjoocjbksAxICtIesplfGCjspJEw/media_httpwwwlikecoolcomGearPicCoca20Cola20HistoryCocaColaHistoryjpg_rbkJorAlwbcggBc.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="380"/></a> </a> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.likecool.com/Coca_Cola_History--Pic--Gear.html">likecool.com</a></div> <p>Will we go back to Glass bottles? A lot easier to recycle and it could be just me, but I swear the Coca-Cola tastes better out of a cold glass container.</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/history-of-coke-bottles-0">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/history-of-coke-bottles-0#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/lvBdPINkCmxwPleAh0JIm_1otOU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/lvBdPINkCmxwPleAh0JIm_1otOU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/lvBdPINkCmxwPleAh0JIm_1otOU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/lvBdPINkCmxwPleAh0JIm_1otOU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=0qWunwf5lEg:8L_AsloA--0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=0qWunwf5lEg:8L_AsloA--0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=0qWunwf5lEg:8L_AsloA--0:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=0qWunwf5lEg:8L_AsloA--0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=0qWunwf5lEg:8L_AsloA--0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=0qWunwf5lEg:8L_AsloA--0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/0qWunwf5lEg" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/history-of-coke-bottles-0 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:04:48 -0800 Sony Subsidises Supercomputers for the US Military? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/IV6PxLrvlOs/sony-subsidises-supercomputers-for-the-us-mil http://www.neilgrogan.com/sony-subsidises-supercomputers-for-the-us-mil <p> Ars has a great article about how Sony through the Playstation 3's awesome power (can't you tell which of this generations consoles I own?) and subsidy (based on recoup of selling games and hardware - a model pioneered with the PS1)<br /> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> <p> With respect to cell processors, a single 1U server configured with two 3.2GHz cell processors can cost up to $8K while two Sony PS3s cost approximately $600. Though a single 3.2 GHz cell processor can deliver over 200 GFLOPS, whereas the Sony PS3 configuration delivers approximately 150 GFLOPS, the approximately tenfold cost difference per GFLOP makes the Sony PS3 the only viable technology for HPC applications. </p></blockquote><p> Calling the PS3 "the only viable technology for HPC applications" is wildly overstating it, but we get the picture. </p></blockquote> <a href="http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2009/11/sony-still-subsidizing-us-supercomputer-efforts.ars">Read more of this fine article here</a>. </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/sony-subsidises-supercomputers-for-the-us-mil">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/sony-subsidises-supercomputers-for-the-us-mil#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/m7F2gk6yPca3qqUGOpo3c1Oxvsw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/m7F2gk6yPca3qqUGOpo3c1Oxvsw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/m7F2gk6yPca3qqUGOpo3c1Oxvsw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/m7F2gk6yPca3qqUGOpo3c1Oxvsw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=IV6PxLrvlOs:HM_NYEBjUeo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=IV6PxLrvlOs:HM_NYEBjUeo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=IV6PxLrvlOs:HM_NYEBjUeo:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=IV6PxLrvlOs:HM_NYEBjUeo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=IV6PxLrvlOs:HM_NYEBjUeo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=IV6PxLrvlOs:HM_NYEBjUeo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/IV6PxLrvlOs" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/sony-subsidises-supercomputers-for-the-us-mil Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:38:59 -0800 Interesting Video for Windows 7 fans http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/5j57_fPm9Ic/interesting-video-for-windows-7-fans http://www.neilgrogan.com/interesting-video-for-windows-7-fans <p> I mentioned this to people in College, and some people said boot times are irrelevant. Still it shows who can get the best performance out of similar hardware, who has to load more legacy stuff etc. so it is useful for some metrics:<p /> <object height="417" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/88aal60AqBs&hl=en&fs=1" /></param><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/88aal60AqBs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="417" wmode="window" width="500"></embed></object> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/interesting-video-for-windows-7-fans">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/interesting-video-for-windows-7-fans#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/JaLABwNKp-YxgEbGdgoo3ydSnDU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/JaLABwNKp-YxgEbGdgoo3ydSnDU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/JaLABwNKp-YxgEbGdgoo3ydSnDU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/JaLABwNKp-YxgEbGdgoo3ydSnDU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=5j57_fPm9Ic:FLwC0xoIEPE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=5j57_fPm9Ic:FLwC0xoIEPE:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=5j57_fPm9Ic:FLwC0xoIEPE:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=5j57_fPm9Ic:FLwC0xoIEPE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=5j57_fPm9Ic:FLwC0xoIEPE:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=5j57_fPm9Ic:FLwC0xoIEPE:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/5j57_fPm9Ic" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/interesting-video-for-windows-7-fans Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:52:08 -0800 Nuclear Power Debates... why not in Ireland? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/tGGHO3bL6e4/nuclear-power-debates-why-not-in-ireland http://www.neilgrogan.com/nuclear-power-debates-why-not-in-ireland <p> Some really informative stuff on Slashdot regarding nuclear power:<p /> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><span class="by">by <a href="http://slashdot.org/%7Edavid.given">david.given (6740)</a></span><br /> France generates pretty much all of its electricity from nuclear, with reprocessing, using pressurised water reactors. Not only do they have a number of handy engineering benefits such as isolating the water loop through the reactor from the water loop through the turbines, but they also have a particularly useful safety feature in that they're self-regulating --- temperature goes up, power output goes down. France has an excellent safety record; I can find only one major incident, which was a coolant spill in 2008. <p>They even do their own waste reprocessing into plutonium, which is then reused to generate more power. Unaccountably, terrorists don't seem to have stolen any of it.</p></blockquote>This was the opposite "self-regulating --- temperature goes up, power output goes down" in Chernobyl. You'll have to forgive me as I wasn't born then. It was re-iterated differently also:<br /> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><p> <span class="by">by <a href="http://slashdot.org/%7EBurning1">Burning1 (204959)</a></span></p><p>More specifically, modern safe reactors have a negative void coefficient. As water vaporizes in an critically hot reactor, it reduces the rate of reaction. The hotter the reactor gets, the larger the void(s) in the coolant, the less reaction occurs.</p><p>Chernobyl had a positive void coefficient.</p></blockquote>The main article was about running Nuclear plants over capicity (120% quoted) and putting contracts up for renewal when possible some plants should be end-of-lifed (EOL). Another submitter had an interesting point on the extended life:<p /> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><span class="by">by <a href="http://slashdot.org/%7Ejpmorgan">jpmorgan (517966)</a></span><br /> The plants were built to a certain design that had large safety margins... not because they were needed per se, but because the designers couldn't prove they weren't. Today, we can model all the behavior of the plants to a high degree, so we don't need the same safety margins to keep these plants safe. You don't need a cooling system with 50% excess design capacity, since we can prove that 25% is sufficient. We know now that the containment wall is twice as big as it needs to be, for the original design load. So, we can use the safety margins to run the plants longer and to higher capacity than the original design.<br /></blockquote><div><br />Chernobyl obviously is used in spades in either side of the argument. Those who favour Nuclear power point out that it can never happen again. Those who are against it use it as an example of what has happend with us mere mortals.<p /> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><span class="by">by <a href="http://slashdot.org/%7EBurning1">Burning1 (204959)</a></span><br /> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div><p>The Chernobyl reactor disaster happened because the operators decided to run a test, and turned off the automatic safety shut-down.</p></div></blockquote><p> ...and because the reactor was of such a design that it could not have a proper containment vessel, and because the control rods had a major flaw in that initiating an emergency shutdown (SCRAM) would cause the reaction rate to INCREASE momentarily, and because the reactor had a positive void coefficient (will tend to increase the rate of reaction as the coolant vaporizes, without outside intervention), AND because there was insufficient instrumentation and operator training to identify the critical reactor condition until after the meltdown had started.</p><p>There was a perfect storm of design flaw and poor decision making that lead to the Chernobyl disaster.</p></blockquote><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> <div><p>Although the nearby town of Pripyat was abandoned after the disaster, Reactors 1-3 continued operation. Reactor number 2 was damage in a fire, and shut down in 1991. Reactor 1 was decommissioned in 1996, and reactor number 3 was shutdown in 2000.</p><p>Personally, reading heavily into the Chernobyl accident has gone a long way towards <b>improving</b> my opinion on nuclear power. To see what it took to cause the most recognizable and most cited disaster, really puts things into perspective.</p></div></blockquote> Spossa came out with a good joke we all love:<br /> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><span class="by">by <a href="http://slashdot.org/%7Esopssa">sopssa (1498795)</a></span><br /> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div class="quote"><p>I'm a supporter of nuclear energy, but don't let anyone dumb too close a nuclear power plant.</p> </div></blockquote><p>It's good we have <a href="http://yfrog.com/04nuclearguyj" title="yfrog.com">this guy</a> [<a href="http://yfrog.com">yfrog.com</a>] in control of a nuclear power plant.</p></blockquote>One thing I love Slashdot for is the informative links, like the one below of a <b>back yard nuclear generator</b>!:<br /> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div class="details"> <span class="by">by <a href="http://slashdot.org/%7Eslewfo0t">slewfo0t (679988)</a></span> <span title="Alter Relationship" class="zooicon neutral"></span><span class="otherdetails"><small><a href="http://www.fullcord.net/" class="user_homepage_display" title="http://www.fullcord.net/" rel="nofollow"></a> </small> </span> </div>Ahh, I see the eco-nuts are in full force with this post... Putting on tin-foil hat...<p /> Nuclear power - PLEASE put one of these in my back yard! <a href="http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news-toshiba-micro-nuclear-12.17b.html" title="nextenergynews.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news-toshiba-micro-nuclear-12.17b.html</a> <br /> </blockquote><div><br />One point we should never forget is that Chernobyl has concentrated the mind safety-wise:<br /> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><span class="by">by <a href="http://slashdot.org/%7EQuantumRiff">QuantumRiff (120817</a></span><br /> I am a huge fan of Nuclear Power, however, I sometimes wonder if all the irrational fear of Nuclear Power was Good for the industry? I kinda think all the negative attention and scare tactics and stuff made the nuclear industry have to go over and above to continue proving, without doubt, that they were safe.. <br /></blockquote></div><div> </div> </div>There was also well versed points that Coal plants would not meet the requirements if it was subject to Nuclear safety regulations. The bulk of the cost of Nuclear is in the safety of the plant and fuel reprocessing/dumping. Most have pointed out it's quite viable to end up with very small amounts of lesser grade material with modern reprocessing.<p /> Why all these comments? Well I wish we had a debate like this in Ireland. We are bar none the most reliant on fossil fuels (of which we produce almost none). Everytime it's brought up in the media, ESB and people who represent them or are in the industry say (paraphrased) "Thats a matter for the 2030's". If you know it takes at least 20 years to get us up to speed (importing technology and people from France, UK etc) then why aren't we having a debate now and a plan of action after 5 years, 2014/5 and beyond? There was an old Nuclear power board in the 80's but it was disbanded on account of the Carnsore point objections. <p /> I firmly believe we have the power to think broader now, like we have on divorce, civil partnerships and so forth. That stuff could not have been implemented from what I understand in the 80's either. Times move on and attitudes change. If we had a debate and the facts, I'm sure supporters of Nuclear energy in Ireland like myself would at least get an educated debate going - as it's our energy future and money. </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/nuclear-power-debates-why-not-in-ireland">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/nuclear-power-debates-why-not-in-ireland#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/XdhOtOBouNrCeVuESk6w5x7c1Q8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/XdhOtOBouNrCeVuESk6w5x7c1Q8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/XdhOtOBouNrCeVuESk6w5x7c1Q8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/XdhOtOBouNrCeVuESk6w5x7c1Q8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=tGGHO3bL6e4:0F3JgaWgg-U:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=tGGHO3bL6e4:0F3JgaWgg-U:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=tGGHO3bL6e4:0F3JgaWgg-U:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=tGGHO3bL6e4:0F3JgaWgg-U:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=tGGHO3bL6e4:0F3JgaWgg-U:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=tGGHO3bL6e4:0F3JgaWgg-U:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/tGGHO3bL6e4" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/nuclear-power-debates-why-not-in-ireland Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:24:04 -0800 Is a Mac Pro overpriced? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/8coMoIMni8g/is-a-mac-pro-overpriced http://www.neilgrogan.com/is-a-mac-pro-overpriced <p> <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5411073/why-its-gotten-straight-stupid-to-buy-a-mac-pro">Gizmodo seem to think so</a>:<br /><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> <p>The $2,500 Mac Pro, desperately in need of a refresh, gives you a 2.66GHz Quad-Core Xeon (essentially an i7), 3GB of RAM (triple channel, but seriously?), 640GB hard drive (again, seriously?) and a nominal graphics card. Spend $800 more and you'll get a another processor and 3GB more RAM.</p><p>The $2200, 27-inch iMac obviously includes a screen, plus you get a 2.8GHz Quad-Core (i7), 1TB drive, 4GB of RAM and a nominal graphics card.</p></blockquote> Gizmodo does have a good point. Apple does make some models for people with more money than sense. Who said the don't cater to all markets!?!? </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/is-a-mac-pro-overpriced">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/is-a-mac-pro-overpriced#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AD_ojP3ohq9BQyTTcSVX5F1PMXM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AD_ojP3ohq9BQyTTcSVX5F1PMXM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AD_ojP3ohq9BQyTTcSVX5F1PMXM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AD_ojP3ohq9BQyTTcSVX5F1PMXM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=8coMoIMni8g:RDyRa8gFIFU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=8coMoIMni8g:RDyRa8gFIFU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=8coMoIMni8g:RDyRa8gFIFU:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=8coMoIMni8g:RDyRa8gFIFU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=8coMoIMni8g:RDyRa8gFIFU:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=8coMoIMni8g:RDyRa8gFIFU:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/8coMoIMni8g" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/is-a-mac-pro-overpriced Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:20:00 -0700 3G Coverage in Ireland http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/ert6wsCsAoo/3g-coverage-in-ireland http://www.neilgrogan.com/3g-coverage-in-ireland <p> I recently used Twitter to post about my journey on public transport from Kilkenny to Dublin. For people outside of Ireland the total Journey distance was about 90 miles.<p />I used only my iPhone on the O2 network and close to 50% of the time it seemed like I had 3G. This was on a train moving at speed, and YouTube played very well with little to no stutter. It did drop to Edge the other half of the time, with about 30% of time I still got speeds web browsing was acceptable on. So in summary: 80% of the time it was possible to surf the web.<p />After that Journey I was also on a Dublin Bus, and I had full 3G coverage which comes as little surprise as Dublin Bus only serves densly populated Dublin and it's environs.<p />A few days later I went on a road trip to Athlone, and the coverage on the M4/M6 was not as good as I'd hoped. My theory on why the train was better is the fact on the routes I've been on a lot more urban areas are visited, thus the rollout has been very good to densely populated towns, but along motorways which are far away from such places: your sadly out of luck.<p />Hutchinson Whampoa (aka 3 Ireland) have recently got the national broadband contract to supply rural areas with 3G coverage, so most of these areas should be covered in the next few years. I should note wireless broadband is hugely needed for mobiles etc,, but a fiber optic service is really what the government should be sticking money into!<p />Overall I am very happy to recommend 3G for mobile usage with small devices. People with Laptops should explore their options and try find something else first, like DSL, Cable or fixed point wireless. These can be slightly more expensive then bargain-basement 3G but worth it. As the old adage goes: sometimes you get what you pay for...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img class="posterous_download_image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7231752728434532377-1387265626600757353?l=www.dueyfinster.com" height="1" alt="" width="1" /></div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/3g-coverage-in-ireland">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/3g-coverage-in-ireland#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/d4N546N7UgvE7DkmW6Tslugiutg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/d4N546N7UgvE7DkmW6Tslugiutg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/d4N546N7UgvE7DkmW6Tslugiutg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/d4N546N7UgvE7DkmW6Tslugiutg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=ert6wsCsAoo:VwUeHOoIslk:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=ert6wsCsAoo:VwUeHOoIslk:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=ert6wsCsAoo:VwUeHOoIslk:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=ert6wsCsAoo:VwUeHOoIslk:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=ert6wsCsAoo:VwUeHOoIslk:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=ert6wsCsAoo:VwUeHOoIslk:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/ert6wsCsAoo" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/3g-coverage-in-ireland Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:15:00 -0700 iPhone 3G Review http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/4wiDFDEU-DU/iphone-3g-review-1 http://www.neilgrogan.com/iphone-3g-review-1 <p> I recently got an iPhone 3G and away from all that Apple mania; I thought I would give an honest review. This is framed in the mindset of all the past Nokia devices (which I have posted about here also) which I have owned.<p />Okay so where to start? Well I think a good place would be what I could have bought instead. Strange place for a review; but its good to see what is out there and what I was looking at beforehand.<p /><div style="text-align: center;">1. <b>Nokia XpressMusic 5800</b></div>Nokia make great phones; I have stuck to the reliability of Symbian on their earlier phones for quite some time. I love Nokia; they mean reliability when you need your phone most - always a top feature other manufacturers never got quite right. Maybe its part inertia on my part - I can't really say. Long story short is that this was a major competitor: over the iPhone it has expandability and a lot more hardware features (like RDS Radio), can play a lot more formats also. Downsides: Got terrible reviews for poor Symbian integration with touch; that plectrum looks downright stupid; it is not as sleek as iPhone in form factor (although it is smaller), screen didn't seem as good to me.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/wAcrDxzyyClshsACcdFqntnzaFCbGeveazlqqImcaxsxgiAypAmCGxlxfgqC/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenaacNokia5800xpressmusicjpg_JBjvbBoEIuEFbzm.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/wAcrDxzyyClshsACcdFqntnzaFCbGeveazlqqImcaxsxgiAypAmCGxlxfgqC/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenaacNokia5800xpressmusicjpg_JBjvbBoEIuEFbzm.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="337"/></a> </div><p /><div style="text-align: center;">2. <b>HTC Magic</b></div><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/btykzBlagmvCqDldqtioClbiCfBdjDhieFAnlnlakryDbgqetDGGaHfmlfeG/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthumbddeHTCmagiccroppedpng200pxHTCmagiccroppedpng_JFgpAvcfunkxzeh.png.scaled500.png" width="200" height="268"/> Follow up to the HTC Dream or GPhone; this Android device has probably the coolest developer OS around. Lots of activity is going on around Android at the moment; so the first phones to land in the UK and Ireland should be more polished (using next gen Android: CupCake). Their is even rumors it will be adapted and put on net books: possibly making it the standard of mobile devices if given enough time. This will only bring more cool apps in time and reduce Apple's iTunes Store lead. Downsides: Not available yet; so I couldn't buy it. Doesn't have as much apps yet. Isn't as polished in the software interface as iPhone. All of these can be resolved with time however...<p /><p /><div style="text-align: center;">3. <b>Palm Pre</b></div><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/04/Palmpre.png"/> I hold out a lot of hope for this! Also Linux based; it promises a cool, open Web developer community as all the apps are online. Web apps need a lot more thought for offline use in my opinion, so I am reserving judgement on this. The interface seems to rock; and developing for it looks super easy... Downsides: not out yet, thus lack of Apps and pricing info.<p /><p /><div style="text-align: center;">4. <b>Some junk WinMob</b></div><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/FIhHgvgGjkjHbfxoAwrlpjjFGsFCrxofaBdtBiuFaxxFqiHihufyIaEgEzig/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb002Sshot11428v229png240pxSshot11428v229png_iJnHreoybjvxdft.png.scaled500.png" width="240" height="320"/> Says it all really: a smart-phone but for less than a good plain old non-smartphone. Always made by some obscure Taiwanese outfit - not that is a bad thing; after-all most iPhone parts come from there. For those on a budget this was my last option; but darn cheap; just over €115 for one! I could have bought one for every member of my immediate family for the price of one iPhone: makes you think, doesn't it?<p /><p /><p /><p />On to the review of the iPhone:<p /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 180%;">Pros:</span></div><br /><b>Beautiful Interface:</b><br />It looks amazing: lets be honest. I have never seen a phone look quite this good.<p /><b>Fingers:</b><br /><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5f/IPhone_EDGE_and_3G.png/636px-IPhone_EDGE_and_3G.png"/> Using only your hands is great; lets face it: you cannot forget your hands. You can forget a stylus and even the iPhone itself; but those hands are sticking with ye!<p /><b>Time: </b><br />I use my phone for time; Apple has it displayed elegantly, in the same place, almost in all the phones' screens. I love this as I can keep myself aware of what I have to do next... All in glorious 24hr goodness, they way time was meant to be displayed...<p /><b>Lots of apps:</b><br />The App store grows bigger every day and all those little useful Apps are really handy.<p /><b>Quick Interface: </b><br />The software interface is very fast at getting you to where you want to go; to that Twitter application or your Web mail etc.<p /><b>Maps and Location based services:</b><br />I have seen the future: and it is the Internet that is location aware. iPhone has taken the first tentative steps in this area with allowing apps to use location; as well as building it into the camera and maps applications.<p /><b>Great iPod:</b><br />Apple doesn't lie on this one. It is a great iPod. The best? I haven't decided yet... but it's not far off...<p /><b>Safari:</b><br /><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/kvpevtqtlmntjjrAucJmjivyhEIBxCyehmDqyDyDDzzuuwEgazqFkolawzls/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen667WikipediaMainPageoniPhonepng_HfrhrzvjqjyEvdq.png.scaled500.png" width="480" height="320"/> It is the real web you get on an iPhone. Not only that: it is surprisingly comfortable to navigate with. I haven't seen a mobile phone device come this close before. The N810 has a great browser with flash; but all round Safari wins on ease of use. I heard the earlier versions were very buggy; maybe I got in just as Safari matured properly.<p /><br /><b>Accelerometer:</b><br />Changing the view of applications as you rotate the phone was a masterstroke. Some things just need to be viewed vertically; others horizontally. The iPhone just makes it happen: seamlessly.. no buttons and no fuss. Thumbs up!<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">SO-SO</span></div><br /><b>Camera:</b><br />Not a lot to complain or praise about the camera. It does it's job... Their is no flash or other trickery other phones have to offer; so any sub-optimal light and the iPhone may as well just not have a camera...<p /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cons:<br /></span></div><br /><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/iuvfgtxtcEcvgEoxyhcjoHGEAGtDvpolipuxHstrnCHqFgetfBiqzabucquG/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen111IPhonehomescreenPNG_usBoCqEhnogJone.PNG.scaled500.jpg" width="320" height="480"/> <b>Cost:</b><br />Its darned expensive! I bought it contract-free and to say it burned a hole in pocket is an understatement.<p /><b>One Inbox:</b><br />Nokia has this one on the button. I don't care whether its SMS, MMS, E-Mail or a message through telekinesis: put it in one place please... It's easier to check; and logically it makes more sense to not have to visit ten apps for each. Bonus points for allowing developers to hook in things like Twitter.. <p /><b>Smudgy:</b><br />It smudges and scratches like nothing I have seen. They tried to make it too shiny; at the cost of usability. I would prefer a grippier, less pretty surface: but I am sure I am in a minority on this. I could probably have even been overheard muttering "Smudgy piece of ****" . Add to any price the cost of a cover...<p /><b>Keyboard: </b><br /><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/CDqmydHzduhgjqIxtczjlbsJfqaIluninoGIveEGibBGJBnegfgFtCtHHpaf/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen009IPhonekeyboardunbluredjpg_oledjqCIEgzHnBA.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/CDqmydHzduhgjqIxtczjlbsJfqaIluninoGIveEGibBGJBnegfgFtCtHHpaf/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen009IPhonekeyboardunbluredjpg_oledjqCIEgzHnBA.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="521"/></a> Yes I know how ugly hardware keyboards look: but they do work. The on-screen keyboard to me: sucks. I much prefer the N810's on-screen one that I can use with my thumbs. Using my index fingers just doesn't feel right; and more to the point: all onscreen keyboards are crap. This is a major TODO for any willing iPhone competitor...<p /><b>Background Apps:</b><br />This may sound like a minor niggle: it's not. Only apps you can run in the background is the phone, iPod, Safari and Mail. I don't even think Safari and Mail are true background apps; in fact I know they aren't: they suspend when they are not at the forefront.<p /><b>Status:</b><br />iPhone OS 3.0 is set to fix notifications; apps will be able to display a number next to their icon. I personally don't think that is good enough. Is a notification area as seen on other phones (you know for like calendar?) too much to ask? I would prefer that as the idle screen rather than the pretty picture.<p /><b>Activation:</b><br />I already feel Apple doesn't trust me; but to force me to run around trying to find a computer with iTunes to activate the thing (I wasn't near home) is just pure stupid. Do it over the air (for free; at your expense) or just don't bother. Fail on this, major fail.<p /><b>Rat race jailbreak:</b><br />Apple should just give up.. People are going to crack these no matter what. You only inconvenience your customers (hint: not the networks; us little people) with all this DRM nonsense. EA has it right: do the minimal DRM for contract purposes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/sGrqCGwmcnpExgFeifkmDigyavrGewmqwwvpexjHDltcFyqFvIuzvgbyyegt/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons222IPhoneImageViewerjpg_xjHnbcJfIitaumv.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/sGrqCGwmcnpExgFeifkmDigyavrGewmqwwvpexjHDltcFyqFvIuzvgbyyegt/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons222IPhoneImageViewerjpg_xjHnbcJfIitaumv.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="268"/></a> </div><p /><b>Pay to release even a free app:</b><br />Its a shame Apple thought 30% markup wasn't steep enough... But even developer of free applications have to pay $99 to release it on the store. It would be fine if you could get the app another way... This just causes more junk apps to appear at a cost... If they did this on OS X it would be suicide; why not open up the iPhone to free software?<br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>No 3.5G:</b><br />I expect this was due to power; which is totally forgivable and understandable. But a nice feature would be 3.5G for extra speed; I expect this and 4G (WiMax?) will appear in later models..<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img class="posterous_download_image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7231752728434532377-4084134997644709567?l=www.dueyfinster.com" height="1" alt="" width="1" /></div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/iphone-3g-review-1">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/iphone-3g-review-1#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/O1VxLm59p9fxomn_PcuZpzCrrN8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/O1VxLm59p9fxomn_PcuZpzCrrN8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/O1VxLm59p9fxomn_PcuZpzCrrN8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/O1VxLm59p9fxomn_PcuZpzCrrN8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=4wiDFDEU-DU:zpZozruaPHs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=4wiDFDEU-DU:zpZozruaPHs:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=4wiDFDEU-DU:zpZozruaPHs:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=4wiDFDEU-DU:zpZozruaPHs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=4wiDFDEU-DU:zpZozruaPHs:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=4wiDFDEU-DU:zpZozruaPHs:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/4wiDFDEU-DU" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/iphone-3g-review-1 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:32:00 -0700 Eircom Responds... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/v28Sg9zM9io/eircom-responds http://www.neilgrogan.com/eircom-responds <p> <blockquote>Dear,<br />[My Name]<p />eircom has not agreed to block any Internet sites from being accessed by<br />end-users. As part of the settlement of the above proceedings, it was<br />agreed that eircom would not oppose an application by the Plaintiffs to<br />seek to have eircom block access to the Pirate Bay website.  The Music<br />Industry will still have to establish, in the normal way that there is<br />an appropriate basis for the relief which they seek from the Court.<br />eircom is not supporting or consenting to the application.  The<br />settlement makes no provision for any site other than the Pirate Bay<br />website.<p />It is important to note that:<p /><ul><li> eircom will not monitor its customer's activities at any stage.</li><li>eircom will not implement any form of monitoring equipment or software on its network.</li><li>eircom will not provide personal details or any information relating to its customers to any third party, including the record companies. </li></ul>No personal data will be transferred from eircom to the<br />record companies which would enable any customer of eircom to be<br />identified.  eircom has agreed to keep confidential and will not<br />disclose any information concerning its customers to the record<br />companies and it will in particular observe in all respects the laws on<br />data protection.<p />With Thanks<br />Thomas Ryan<br />Head of eircom Customer Care</blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img class="posterous_download_image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7231752728434532377-6434984279672714627?l=www.dueyfinster.com" height="1" alt="" width="1" /></div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/eircom-responds">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/eircom-responds#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/9d_kXtm3A7yd_IwbwlLunLVKYcI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/9d_kXtm3A7yd_IwbwlLunLVKYcI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/9d_kXtm3A7yd_IwbwlLunLVKYcI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/9d_kXtm3A7yd_IwbwlLunLVKYcI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=v28Sg9zM9io:xo30sjchPkk:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=v28Sg9zM9io:xo30sjchPkk:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=v28Sg9zM9io:xo30sjchPkk:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=v28Sg9zM9io:xo30sjchPkk:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=v28Sg9zM9io:xo30sjchPkk:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=v28Sg9zM9io:xo30sjchPkk:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/v28Sg9zM9io" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/eircom-responds Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:10:00 -0800 Love letter to IRMA's Solicitor http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/zoLxqEVhYyQ/love-letter-to-irmas-solicitor http://www.neilgrogan.com/love-letter-to-irmas-solicitor <p> <div style="text-align: center;"><i> This post is a continuation on the previous one. IRMA is the Irish Music Rights Organisation which represents the big four record companies and their bottom line: never the artist. They have recently tried to regulate the Internet and have forced the biggest Irish ISP: Eircom; to use the three strikes rule and boot people off the Internet... No Judge, no Jury, no evidence of a crime.. Just an IP address and a sanction which you cannot contest.<p /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>I have sent a poignant email to IRMA's solicitor based on their letter of attack on the ISP's. If you think any of the language is too harsh by me; <a href="http://blog.blacknight.com/images/irmaletter.pdf">please have a look at a sample of the threat letter this solicitor sent out here</a>. This is a legal firm who were suing individuals for thousands of euro; which I would hazard a guess most couldn't pay. So in my eyes this is a form of legal terrorism; and a joke letter to give this solicitor a heads up that there are people out there like me who read and know the tactics of the Irish Music Rights Organisation; and the parent companies like IFPI, RIAA and the Anit-Piracy Bureau they spring from.... It is my opinion that nothing short of punishment (jail time) for frivolous threat letters should be carried out, plus damages (x10 like they do in their cases) to individuals and companies wrongly stressed out by this. I will compile a blog post of all the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) that IRMA has spread soon; and a rebuttal of why their actions may even increase piracy. One thing is for sure; my analysis will be a whole lot cheaper (free) and probably more accurate!<p /><b>Note:</b> I have taken out names, but the legal firm and the acting solicitor can be examined in the letter above ^<p /><blockquote>Dear [Solicitor for IRMA's name],<p />It is my position that you are morally bankrupt through your actions via IRMA vs. ISP's. If you need independent advice on how this technology works (I am in Computer Science; but I can explain things slowly; so who knows?) I would be most delighted to help. Please note my hourly rate is at least twice yours; but I'm worth it!<p />I look forward to hearing from you in 7 days; lest I contact a credit agency for non-payment. As this email constitutes services rendered by me. But I am willing to trade for legal advice on disbarment of a solicitors firm I know which abuses the law; only because I am a reasonable person!<p />Kindest Regards & Love,<br />[My Footer]<p />PS: This is intended as Humour... only slightly...(joke!). I will publish any response you make on the Internet; so keep this in mind; if you don't wish it so; don't respond.</blockquote>Rest assured I will publish any response; but I don't expect one....<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img class="posterous_download_image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7231752728434532377-1374298791444158178?l=www.dueyfinster.com" height="1" alt="" width="1" /></div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/love-letter-to-irmas-solicitor">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/love-letter-to-irmas-solicitor#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/pS2-R8d1roUv52Lcvr0ilDzcEh8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/pS2-R8d1roUv52Lcvr0ilDzcEh8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/pS2-R8d1roUv52Lcvr0ilDzcEh8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/pS2-R8d1roUv52Lcvr0ilDzcEh8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=zoLxqEVhYyQ:6-OzpvI4hE8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=zoLxqEVhYyQ:6-OzpvI4hE8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=zoLxqEVhYyQ:6-OzpvI4hE8:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=zoLxqEVhYyQ:6-OzpvI4hE8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=zoLxqEVhYyQ:6-OzpvI4hE8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=zoLxqEVhYyQ:6-OzpvI4hE8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/zoLxqEVhYyQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/love-letter-to-irmas-solicitor Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:08:00 -0800 This post is censored by IRMA http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/2EH7xPcu9fU/this-post-is-censored-by-irma http://www.neilgrogan.com/this-post-is-censored-by-irma <p> I always hoped for better for Ireland; but it seems the thieving hand of "rights" organizations which pretend to represent the artist have struck gold. Being able to cajole and bribe the largest Irish Internet Service Provider (ISP) - Eircom; has worked only too well. Although Eircom has said it will only obey by having a court order - it has agreed never to oppose these - which makes it complicit in the act of censorship. My Letter to Our ISP, Eircom, IRMA, EFF:<p /><blockquote>Dear [OUR ISP],<p />We are a loyal customer of yours. We are writing this because we're concerned about recent news regarding IRMA (Irish Music Rights Ass.) relationship with your company (<a href="http://blog.blacknight.com/images/irmaletter.pdf" target="_blank">the recent letters sent out</a>).<p />It would seem that they are seeking to become self-appointed censors of Irish Internet communications. We do not think that a third-party company should be permitted to arbitrarily decide which Internet sites Eircom users; or more importantly any Irish Internet user should be allowed to visit. Will IRMA want to block sites that merely link to copyrightable material, proxy sites that circumvent the block, blogs that criticize its actions? This is a very slippery slope and should be nipped in the bud.<p />In the recent high profile case against The Pirate Bay in Sweden; IRMA's handlers (IFPI, RIAA) have shown their hand: they don't even understand the underlying technology. John Kennedy, CEO. IFPI:<p /><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Kennedy said he qualified as a lawyer since the 70’s but hasn’t practiced recently. He was asked if he understood BitTorrent. Kennedy said he did, but in “very vague terms.” When the defense lawyers asked more detailed questions, about uTorrent for instance, Kennedy said he’d heard of it but had no idea of the details. It was very clear he knew nothing about any remotely technical issues.</blockquote><br /><div>This is the the kind of people who wish to regulate the Internet. Questions need to be asked that if you follow IRMA's requested actions does this open you up to legal action for any other kinds of material which rights holders are protective of (Church of Scientology) ? and can you retain common carrier status like An Post; and need warrants issued instead of some rights organisation sending you a vague letter pretending to represent XY&Z ?<br /></div><div></div>We understand the 'concern' about Internet piracy. Artists definitely need to be paid for their hard work. It is an important issue in this day and age, and it must be addressed correctly. Censorship is not the answer. It is avoiding the issue. As has always happened in these cases, it is normal customers who are inconvenienced and have their free speech restricted the most. We need solutions that work, not knee-jerk reactions that are doomed to fail. We recommend you read the EFF’s whitepaper on a better way forward for online music. <a href="http://www.eff.org/wp/better-way-forward-voluntary-collective-licensing-music-file-sharing" target="_blank">http://www.eff.org/wp/better-way-forward-voluntary-collective-licensing-music-file-sharing</a><p />There are opportunities here that are being missed. I think it would be for the benefit of both artists and music fans if a solution could be found that combines the technologies developed by the pirates with a fair system for paying artists.<p /><b>There was a very similar case in Italy where ISPs were forced to block The Pirate Bay’s website after pressure from the music industry (the result was that Italian traffic to the site increased by 5%) . The ban was judged illegal in court under European Directive, 2000/31 CE which is also applicable in Ireland. </b><p />If this ban goes ahead, Eircom and indeed Ireland will have a tarnished image on the world stage as a place where misguided efforts to protect revenue supersede freedom of communication. We would also be strongly considering abandoning our Internet subscription for an ISP who doesn't cave to these demands, and we imagine many other business' will too.<br />Please, make the right choice. The world is watching. Your decision will have an important impact on the future of the Internet in Ireland.<p />Yours faithfully,<br />[Footer]</blockquote><br />I will posting more on this issue as it happens. Stay Tuned! If your Irish and/or in Ireland: please visit: <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://blackoutireland.com/"><b>http://blackoutireland.com/</b></a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img class="posterous_download_image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7231752728434532377-1030132458866512028?l=www.dueyfinster.com" height="1" alt="" width="1" /></div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/this-post-is-censored-by-irma">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/this-post-is-censored-by-irma#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/gtePVsbMSMbs5c4JQAKqrm7nApw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/gtePVsbMSMbs5c4JQAKqrm7nApw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/gtePVsbMSMbs5c4JQAKqrm7nApw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/gtePVsbMSMbs5c4JQAKqrm7nApw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=2EH7xPcu9fU:oa4OV7oI6ZU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=2EH7xPcu9fU:oa4OV7oI6ZU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=2EH7xPcu9fU:oa4OV7oI6ZU:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=2EH7xPcu9fU:oa4OV7oI6ZU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=2EH7xPcu9fU:oa4OV7oI6ZU:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=2EH7xPcu9fU:oa4OV7oI6ZU:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/2EH7xPcu9fU" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/this-post-is-censored-by-irma Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:08:00 -0800 Linux Desktop Environments? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/XkV3A41AvDY/linux-desktop-environments http://www.neilgrogan.com/linux-desktop-environments <p> What are Desktop Environments? Wikipedia defines it as:<br /><blockquote>In graphical computing, a <b>desktop environment</b> (<b>DE</b>) commonly refers to a style of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_user_interface" title="Graphical user interface">graphical user interface</a>...... A desktop environment typically consists of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icon_%28computing%29" title="Icon (computing)">icons</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_%28computing%29" title="Window (computing)">windows</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toolbar" title="Toolbar">toolbars</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directory_%28file_systems%29" title="Directory (file systems)">folders</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_wallpaper" title="Computer wallpaper">wallpapers</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widget_engine" title="Widget engine">desktop widgets</a>. (See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIMP_%28computing%29" title="WIMP (computing)">WIMP</a>.)</blockquote>I would add a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_manager">file manager</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_browser">browser</a> to this list also! Let's look at the two most popular consumer Operating Systems (in three variants) and their Desktop Environments:<br /><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7231752728434532377" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><table border="1"><tr> <td><b>OS Name</b></td><td><b>Widgets</b></td><td><b>Window Manager</b></td><td><b>File Manager</b></td><td><b>Browser</b></td> </tr><tr> <td>Windows XP</td><td>Luna</td><td>Stack Window Manager</td><td>Windows File Explorer</td><td>Internet Explorer 6</td> </tr><tr> <td>Windows Vista</td><td>Aero</td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_Window_Manager" title="Desktop Window Manager">Desktop Window Manager</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Explorer">Windows File Explorer</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer">Internet Explorer 7</a></td> </tr><tr> <td>Mac OS X</td><td>Cocoa</td><td>Quartz Compositor</td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finder_%28software%29">Finder</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safari_%28web_browser%29">Safari 2.X</a></td> </tr></table><br />Now take Linux; really a Kernel, but packaged means an Operating System. Which way you package it makes all the difference! You still use the same drivers, the boot process is still the same, but when your machine finishes its boot and launches all that graphics stuff anything can appear: <b>anything</b>. It's abstraction to have no real graphics in a kernel other than that which are drivers to control hardware. This is very strange to people who think in the Windows way (nb. I used to be one of these). At the end of Windows XP booting I have never seen anything but Luna; and most people don't know its called that. So it is very strange for people my age and slightly older who grew up over DOS and Windows 3.1/95 line to have this fundamental shift in logic.<p />When most people say Linux they 'never' (<i>as Home Desktop user</i>) normally mean the Kernel; they mean 'Gnome', 'KDE', 'Fluxbox', 'Enlightenment' and I could go on! To confuse further; people who say Linux may mean 'Ubuntu', 'Fedora', 'OpenSuse', 'Mandriva' which are all packaged versions of Linux Kernel with a Desktop Environment such as Gnome or KDE (and GNU Toolkit). So here's the table:<p /><table border="1"><tr> <td><b>Desktop Environment</b></td><td><b>Widgets</b></td><td><b>Window Manager</b></td><td><b>File Manager</b></td><td><b>Browser</b></td> </tr><tr> <td><a href="http://www.gnome.org/">Gnome</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GTK%2B">GTK2</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metacity">Metacity</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautilus_%28file_manager%29">Nautilus</a></td><td>Firefox/ Ephiphany</td> </tr><tr> <td><a href="http://www.kde.org/">KDE</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qt_%28toolkit%29">QT</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwin">KWin</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphin_%28software%29">Dolphin</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konqueror">Konqueror</a></td><td>Konqueror</td> </tr><tr> <td><a href="http://www.xfce.org/">XFCE</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GTK%2B">GTK</a></td><td><a href="http://www.xfce.org/projects/xfwm4/">Window Manager</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunar">Thunar</a></td><td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midori_%28browser%29">Midori</a></td> </tr></table><br /><b>The interesting part...</b><br /><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7231752728434532377" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7231752728434532377" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Yes there really was a point to all of this rambling! The point is the you are not bound to any graphical way in Linux:<i> there is none</i>. It is completely your choice what you choose to use. If you go with a pre-package distribution the choice is made: Ubuntu uses Gnome, Kubuntu uses KDE, and Xubuntu uses XFCE. The really neat part: all can co-exist happily on the same machine. I have KDE, Gnome and XFCE all installed right now. I can open up Konqueror in Gnome; Thunar in KDE and Epiphany in XFCE. All my KDE programs appear in my Gnome menu and vice-versa; same with XFCE. This is a strange concept from being able to use say Mac OS X Finder on Windows: it can't be done! Open source plays nice ;) Now for the part I like; lovely screenshots to help you on your journey to choose!<br /><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7231752728434532377" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /><table><tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gnome-2.20-screenshot.png"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/DnxgicpcdAFAhwBBFmGtyaogotjDleiotmIilnwvBvGdDsbEytGajusqyFGe/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthumbffdGnome220screenshotpng120pxGnome220screenshotpng_zmrGyApsEjoIamc.png.scaled500.png" width="120" height="80"/> </a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KDE_4.png"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/iDnFeoymjkcIdizEgyhaonagEDtwHjdegwmvoldDupvzGHeJafzjBkhoDifA/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthumb554KDE4png120pxKDE4png_rlAjxypxwnFwcFk.png.scaled500.png" width="120" height="75"/> </a></td> <td><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Xfce-4.4.png"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/fbyiojpfFjhJJwgmaayIzCjrfgwuxrcafIasEDuAeJtuJxxAAuxqqfaIaqIy/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthumb771Xfce44png120pxXfce44png_nxjvzzbzgIlzele.png.scaled500.png" width="120" height="96"/> </a></td> <td><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/09/Enlightenment_DR17_Screenshot.png"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/rhriezImChIisFFAfAJfGbpskEmjzHinvfpizhbFjzzgbudJHGccjxxzomjl/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb009EnlightenmentDR17Screenshotpng120pxEnlightenmentDR17Screenshotpng_mAGnsGByekzrphs.png.scaled500.png" width="120" height="90"/> </a></td> </tr><tr><td><b>Gnome 2.20</b></td><td><b>KDE 4</b></td><td><b>XFCE</b></td><td><b>Enlightenment</b></td></tr><tr> <td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr></table><br /><b>NB.</b> I wrote this post as I noticed some in my Computer Science class struggled with this concept, in many ways I couldn't understand this at first either... so I just thought what would normal people think? My response is this post; with a few screenshots to hopefully brighten things up! <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_X_Window_System_desktop_environments#Desktop_comparison_information">Wikipedia has a more in-depth comparison of X11 Linux-compatible Desktop environments here</a> for those interested.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img class="posterous_download_image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7231752728434532377-6570581603973888921?l=www.dueyfinster.com" height="1" alt="" width="1" /></div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/linux-desktop-environments">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/linux-desktop-environments#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/i6QxE-HGP182uEXixqeCeLaycow/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/i6QxE-HGP182uEXixqeCeLaycow/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/i6QxE-HGP182uEXixqeCeLaycow/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/i6QxE-HGP182uEXixqeCeLaycow/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=XkV3A41AvDY:KxfHTxIgq0Y:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=XkV3A41AvDY:KxfHTxIgq0Y:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=XkV3A41AvDY:KxfHTxIgq0Y:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=XkV3A41AvDY:KxfHTxIgq0Y:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=XkV3A41AvDY:KxfHTxIgq0Y:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=XkV3A41AvDY:KxfHTxIgq0Y:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/XkV3A41AvDY" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/linux-desktop-environments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:09:00 -0800 Ubuntu in four years http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dueyfinster/~3/s03f1eRw35s/ubuntu-in-four-years http://www.neilgrogan.com/ubuntu-in-four-years <p> Last year was me celebrating four years of using the best operating system out there: <a href="http://kernel.org/">Linux</a>; and the best distro <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/">Ubuntu</a>. Ubuntu was my first foray in to Linux; and I haven't left it since; although I have tried all the other major distros. I started with the first version of Ubuntu; Warthy Warthog:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d0/Ubuntu-desktop-2-410-20080706.png/180px-Ubuntu-desktop-2-410-20080706.png"/> <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a></div><br />Warthy had a text only installer and it took me quite a while to not only get used to the idea of this strange operating system; but the fear of leaving Windows-land where all that power usage knowledge would mean nothing. It meant nothing in terms of the registry and other superficial stuff; but the more I used Ubuntu and Linux the more I liked it. In fact in 2005 I ditched my XP installation altogether. I noticed there wasn't an Irish Ubuntu users group; so I mailed one of the few people (around 5 I guess) that were around Mark Shuttleworth to set it up and get a website going. It was an ill-advised effort since I was too busy with examinations really to take it on; so I gave it up soon after. But it is still going today, people are still involved.<p /><b>Hoary</b><br />Next came Hoary in 2005 and I was blown away how fast improvements were made; I still couldn't believe all this could be free... It seemed too good to be true really; I thought if Mark Shuttleworth ever left that would finish off Ubuntu and that would be it. While that might be still true; other distributions out there do tremendous work: Fedora is one I'd use if there were no Ubuntu.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/20/Ubuntu-desktop-2-504-20080706.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/HmyuuxhxJBAezyDCdmhyIefEhbzecobCJwbAHporwnniguIGolttqwgwoDGv/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb220Ubuntudesktop250420080706png180pxUbuntudesktop250420080706png_xbqrgpEJtabhJcC.png.scaled500.png" width="180" height="135"/> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />All I can say is this: while I was definately interested in Information Technology before (and knew I was heading for a Computer Science course); I owe a lot to Linux and Ubuntu for showing me the nitty gritty (that I wanted to see) and has helped me immesureably in my College life. Of course now that Ubuntu is one of the most polished Linux distrobutions out there it helps me when I need to get away from the nitty gritty too ;) To end this post it is only fitting to see the latest version:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Ubuntu.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/import-qsoh/frByxDlpoJcdlcaHsJjHfhAFtuoBabpJgBBeqdqoDogbfacmrCuFEiBhxwfz/media_httpuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthumb55bUbuntupng180pxUbuntupng_ynsjHJpqycGjIFC.png.scaled500.png" width="180" height="135"/> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img class="posterous_download_image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7231752728434532377-4315053694875808813?l=www.dueyfinster.com" height="1" alt="" width="1" /></div> </p> <p><a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/ubuntu-in-four-years">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.neilgrogan.com/ubuntu-in-four-years#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bKGGs1lY4D9mlCa8tMHK7TIMKMw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bKGGs1lY4D9mlCa8tMHK7TIMKMw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bKGGs1lY4D9mlCa8tMHK7TIMKMw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bKGGs1lY4D9mlCa8tMHK7TIMKMw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=s03f1eRw35s:1Tn_IsREfMQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=s03f1eRw35s:1Tn_IsREfMQ:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=s03f1eRw35s:1Tn_IsREfMQ:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=s03f1eRw35s:1Tn_IsREfMQ:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?a=s03f1eRw35s:1Tn_IsREfMQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/dueyfinster?i=s03f1eRw35s:1Tn_IsREfMQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dueyfinster/~4/s03f1eRw35s" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/unknown75.gif http://posterous.com/people/37lrs4xvFt8R Neil Grogan Neil Neil Grogan http://www.neilgrogan.com/ubuntu-in-four-years